Lube and bleed casing adaptor

Abstract

A casing adapter and related systems and methods are provided for a lubricate and bleed operation in a wellbore where heavy fluids are directly deposited downwell. The casing adapter allows a hose to be positioned downwell and to be operably connected to a tank of heavy fluid. Once the heavy fluid is deposited, the casing adapter receives lighter fluids from the well bore, and the casing adapter is operably connected to a return tank that stores lighter fluids.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 62 / 487,931, filed on Apr. 20, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to an apparatus and methods for placing desired fluids in well annuli from surface and optimizing lube and bleed operations in an oil and gas well.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In completed oil and gas wells, it is sometimes desired to place fluids downhole, either as far from surface as possible or at a predetermined distance from surface. Such fluids, typically intended to remedy an issue with the well, typically have a higher chance of successfully remedying the issue if applied as deep as possible. At the same time, as will be appreciated by those in the field, the cheapest and most readily available access point for inserting such fluids into the well is at the wellhead. One well known technique for placing desired fluids downhole vi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The invention would provide a Lube and Bleed Casing Adaptor (LBCA) that may be used to eliminate inefficiencies and improve accuracy in traditional lubricate and bleed operations, as well as other well operations where fluids must be placed downhole through the wellhead. In one embodiment of the invention, the LBCA allows for placing fluids at a desired downhole depth in a well that is not under pressure using an expandable outer diameter hose that minimizes friction pressure. In another embodiment of the invention, the LBCA allows for placing fluids at a desired downhole depth in a well that is under pressure using a fixed outer diameter hose that is lubricated into place. In each embodiment, a bleed capability of the LBCA allows fluid and pressure to bleed during the lubricate and bleed operation. Because the invention provides a means to directly place fluids at a desired depth, the need to wait until heavier fluid falls and lighter fluid migrates up is eliminated.

[0007]Another objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method that facilitates bleeding a predetermined amount of pressure from a well while lubricating a desired volume of fluid into the well without first waiting for lighter fluids to first migrate to toward surface.

[0008]A further objective is to provide an apparatus and method that facilitates placing a desired fluid downhole in both pressured and unpressured environments.

[0009]An apparatus of this nature will also provide significant cost and time savings by eliminating the mandatory wait time associated with traditional lubricate and bleed operations.

[0010]An apparatus of this nature may provide greater placement accuracy and certainty than can be achieved with traditional lubricate and bleed operations.

Problems solved by technology

Further, wells will sometimes be under pressure, which decreases the amount of fluid that can be introduced into the well in any given phase of the lubricate and bleed operation.

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